View Post

Don’t give up. Or do, I can’t tell you what to do.

In Commentary And Analysis, Major League Baseball, Playoffs by andcounting72 Comments

The Cubs are as on the brink of elimination as they can be. That the E hasn’t been posted next to their name in the Wild Card standings entering the penultimate game of the season is bittersweet. This officially official do-or-die moment comes at an earlier point than I could have imagined three weeks ago yet much later than I …

View Post

NLCS Game 5: Dodgers 11, Cubs 1

In Playoffs, Postgame by berselius77 Comments

OSS: Well, it wasn't a sweep. Two up: At least this one was over quickly. Um…the pitching staff only issued two walks? Time to deal with my DVR/streaming backlog! Hannibal and Halt and Catch Fire, I'm looking at you. Three down: Quintana just didn't have it tonight, and the Dodgers made him pay. I look forward to his next few …

View Post

NLCS Game 4: Cubs 3, Dodgers 2

In Playoffs, Postgame by berselius38 Comments

OSS: Three up: Javy Baez homered twice, and Willson Contreras hit the longest HR of the entire season across all MLB (assuming I heard the announcers right) to account for all of the Cubs runs, which was just enough to hold on. The Cubs even managed to put some balls in play! We were hoping for Vintage Jake, but we …

View Post

NLCS Game Three: Dodgers 6, Cubs 1

In Playoffs, Postgame by berselius33 Comments

OSS: Cubs lose in all aspects of the game. Three up: Kyle Schwarber got the scoring started with an opposite field solo HR against Darvish in the first inning. Unfortunately, that is also when the scoring stopped. Kris Bryant had two hits and didn't strike out for what seems like the first time in the last month. We didn't have …

View Post

NLCS Game 2: Dodgers 4, Cubs 1

In Playoffs, Postgame by berselius64 Comments

OSS: Showalter'd. Three up: Addison Russell struck the only major Cubs blow in this one with a line drive homer to left that briefly gave the Cubs the lead. The bullpen proper performed much better in this one, especially Carl Edwards Jr. Foolish bottom of the ninth decisions aside, Edwards, Strop, and Duensing combined for four innings, allowing just one …

View Post

NLCS Game One: Dodgers 5, Cubs 2

In Playoffs, Postgame by berselius39 Comments

OSS: Well, at least it's a slightly longer series. Three up: Albert Almora was the only Cubs player with a positive WPA on the day, thanks to a two run homer off of Kershaw in the fourth inning to give the Cubs a lead. They didn't end up with much to show for it, but Bryzzo were squaring up Kershaw …

View Post

NLDS Game 5: Cubs 9, Nationals 8

In Playoffs, Postgame by berselius107 Comments

OSS: That was the craziest Cubs’ winner-take-all clincher I have seen since the last time they had a winner-take-all clincher.* Three up: On a night of shaky pitching performances all around, Wade Davis somehow put together a seven out save to send the Cubs to the NLCS. He didn't have his best stuff, but he brought it for the final …

View Post

NLDS Game 3: Cubs 2, Nationals 1

In Playoffs, Postgame by berselius58 Comments

OSS: Cubs win despite getting no hit for most of the game again. Three+ up: Anthony Rizzo had the biggest hit of the game, a bloop single to left that managed to find the hole between three defenders to drive in the go-ahead run in the eighth inning. It more than made up for the double play he hit into …